The University of St. Thomas is committed to investing in returning service members’ education by participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Through this program, UST will collaborate with the Veterans Administration to enable eligible veterans to attend UST with no tuition cost.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is part of the Chapter 33 education benefit for veterans who have served in the military since Sept. 11, 2001. GI Bill 2.0 legislation passed in December of 2010 caps private university tuition benefit coverage at $17,500 per academic year, but the Yellow Ribbon Program permits the University and the VA to provide matching funds to cover the remaining portion of tuition and fees not covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other eligible student aid.

Veterans are also eligible for institutional scholarships and grants as well as federal and state grant programs. Students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine financial aid eligibility.

“At the University of St. Thomas, we feel honored to educate those who have served our country. Veterans praise our supportive environment and dedicated faculty who have had a transformative impact our their careers.” said St Thomas President Dr. Robert Ivany, Major General, Retired, U.S. Army. Dr. Ivany served in the Army for 34 years before retiring in 2003.

Philip Butcher, UST director of Veteran Services, is a veteran who spent 4 ½ years as an aircrew member in the U.S. Air Force flying combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Butcher is available to provide individual attention to guide veterans through the university and education benefits application process. Since UST created an Office of Veteran Services in 2009, the student-veteran community at UST has grown from less than 20 veterans to nearly 100.

“I remember all of the confusion I had when I separated from the military and began attending school− the head in the clouds feeling of not always knowing what to do next or where to go,” Butcher said. “I want to make sure that other veterans have more information so that they can take full advantage of their benefits.”

University of St. Thomas
The University of St. Thomas, dedicated to educating leaders of faith and character, is a private institution committed to the liberal arts and to the religious, ethical and intellectual tradition of Catholic higher education. St. Thomas is Houston’s only Catholic University and was founded by the Basilian Fathers in 1947.